All Entries Tagged With: "Kyle Kuric"

Kyle Kuric Is Fine, Thanks

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Planet Earth Calling Louisville Basketball

Moments like these don’t come along often enough.

My, but  it feels so good, the incredible high University of Louisville fans are luxuriating in right now. The players, too. Especially the players.

A huge win in the final game at Freedom Hall, Kyle Kuric being born a star against No. 1-ranked Syracuse. That’s what U of L basketball is all about, winning the big ones over the decades.

But if competition in the Big East teaches us anything, it is that your last win has no bearing on the next game. The biggest challenge facing Rick Pitino is getting his basketball team back to Planet Earth. As soon as possible.

Win a big game against a good team, get all giddy, overconfident, and look downright impotent losing against a mediocre one in the next game. That’s how this season has gone for U of L, lacking true leadership, struggling for consistency, working like a dog to assure itself of a place in the NCAA tournament.

Wednesday, at 9 p.m., Louisville will face the winner of the Rutgers-Cincinnati game, two teams that don’t exactly get the heart pumping. At Madison Square Garden, where U of L has had more than its share of highs and lows.

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Speaking of struggles, the U of L women’s basketball team finally reached bottom in a season-ending 37-point loss to Notre Dame in the Big East women’s tournament. The Lady Cards finished with a 14-17 record one season after playing in the national championship game.

A nightmarish season included many injuries to key players, making each game a significant challenge. If Jeff Walz had not found walk-on Shelby Harper and enticed Gwen Rucker and Brandie Radde to return, he would have had only five players at the end of the season.

With a top five recruiting class coming in, the outlook is improved for next season. But those incoming freshmen will need some seasoning and the veterans have some things to work on themselves. Sonja Sykes discusses the outlook for next season.

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Kyle Kuric Day At Freedom Hall

Just when one has given up on finding a decent photo of a Kyle Kuric dunk from the Louisville’s 78-68 win over Syracuse.

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Louisville Media Corrals Kyle Kuric

Kyle Kuric, the University of Louisville basketball team’s newest Freedom Hall legend, speaks:

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Kuric Leaves His Stamp On Freedom Hall

Decades from now University of Louisville fans will remember Freedom Hall, and talk about what a good place it was to watch basketball, about many of the memorable wins, the great Louisville players, the coaches, the NCAA Final Fours, a great slice of college basketball history.

They will remember that Louisville won that game, defeating Syracuse a second time that season.

Talk about all the former players on hand, Darrell Griffith, Wiley Brown, Rodney and Scooter McCray, Pervis Ellison, Billy Thompson, Roger Burkman …

About all the media hype leading up to that final game.

About Rick Pitino turning the microphone over to Denny Crum for the official goodbye to the old Cardinal home court.

What they will remember most, however, is the performance of Kyle Kuric during the second half because he went unnoticed during two minutes of action in the first half. He would re-enter the game with 16:11 to go.

The closing curtain for Freedom Hall, Louisville desperately needing a win, an NCAA tournament bid on the line, it was ne of those games that demands that someone step forward.

Kuric’s offensive display would not begin until the 14:25 mark, shocking onlookers with another one of those amazing dunks, following that up by hitting eight out of his next 10 shots, including four three-point shots and three other slams.

All 22 of his point total in 19 minutes of playing time. Even more impressively, all of his baskets coming with less than 14:25 to go in the game.

Kyle Kuric stepping out the shadows, grabbing the spotlight, assuming the leadership his team desperately needed,  becoming a Freedom Hall legend in the process.

And here’s a Kyle Kuric dunk video:

Louisville-Syracuse Box Score

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Louisville Misses Finish Line

The pre-game motivational stuff from Rick Pitino, Terrence Williams, Andre McGee and company was enough to get their Louisville team sufficiently pumped for the first 15 minutes or so. Somewhere around that point, however, Jay Wright would do a little motivating of his own, collecting a technical foul, shaking up his players and the guys wearing stripes.

Before Wright stormed the floor, this was a Louisville team reminiscent of some of the great ones in headliner games, the kind Cards would usually win, turning fans into fanatics. Whether it was adrenaline-inspired, simply an apparition or a preview of things to come, U of L’s performance before Jay Wright’s theatrics provide encouragement for what lies ahead.

• Samardo Samuels, with a different look in his eyes, playing like coaches and fans had hoped he was capable, aggressive, going after the ball, not getting pushed around. Hitting an oh-my-God hook shot, hitting all four shots he takes, including 13 of 13 free throws. Samuels gained considerable respect in this game. Now if his teammates can get him the ball often, he’s ready and willing.

• Peyton Siva, now that his wrist is better and he’s gotten over the newby syndrome, displayed why he was so highly touted coming out of high school. Two great steals, questionably classified as fouls, could have turned the game at the end. He knows his way down the lane, twisting and turning, somehow getting the ball to Samuels. He’s only just begun.

• Jerry Smith, as the person next to me observed, will either do something spectacular and incredibly stupid, just often enough that fans have come to expect it. One nice three-point shot but he remains in a shooting slump, hitting one of six shot attempts.  Six rebounds but five turnovers? Something’s not right.

• Preston Knowles looking like a player who actually has a few flaws, making surprising turnovers, missing those surprising shots he has hit so often fans have come to count on them. No doubt those qualities will return.

• Jared Swopshire, getting in foul trouble too early, just not enough of him to go around.

• Kyle Kuric is fearless around the boards. Find your shot, Kyle, soon.

Rick Pitino, fearless wearing the white suit. He had this team ready to play. Some just couldn’t finish.

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Louisville Confident In Dissecting Providence

No letdown following the rivalry encounter in Lexington, a conflict which will be remembered more as a maelstrom than a basketball game.

Whatever it was, the University of Louisville players put it behind them — exhibiting no hangover effects, racing to a 14-0 lead. Those kind of leads rarely hold up, resulting in overconfidence, lack of intensity, and sloppy play for the early front runner.

With a few minutes to think about it at the half, Rick Pitino’s team methodically dissected a Providence team that is going to surprise a few Big East teams. When the three-point shots are going in, Louisville will be more than competitive.

• Most encouraging, Mike Marra getting a ton of playing time, with 26 minutes, hitting three of five three-point shots. Playing with confidence, showing no fear amidst the elbows around the basket. A possible new dimension in the offense.

• Edgar Sosa making it look ridiculously easy at times, collecting 26 points, four assists and five rebounds. If he can get used to being good, this team can be a good one.

• Jared Swopshire almost robotic, never showing emotion, even when someone is attempting to ram an elbow in his face. Keep tinkering with the controls, coaches, and he may become a finely-turned machine. Just don’t ask him to get excited about it.

• Jerry Smith spends too much time imitating a tough guy rather than focusing on basketball on most nights. Focused on basketball in the second half, collecting all of his 14 points.

• Much of Samardo Samuels’ value coming from his being double teamed by teams reading outdated scouting reports, freeing up other players to score. Sometimes, sometimes not. Still blowing too many easy ones this game but collecting 17 points and nine rebounds. How about those three assists?

• Terrence Jennings just isn’t paying attention much of the time he’s out there but when he does, he’s a nightmare on the defensive end.

• Preston Knowles making life miserable for opposing guards again, finding a three-pointer at a good time.  Keep taking care that thumb.

• Kyle Kuric, missing in action, was he limping during the handshakes? If not, he should get minutes every game.

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